Dental articulator



June 28,'1949. w. w. MOORE DENTAL ARTI CULATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledJuly 1, 1946 .,ae'rfwfe 2g Ry@ y 3a 40 .f3 j' wf June 2s, 1949. w. w.MQORE 2,474,488

' DENTAL ARTICULATOR l Filed July 1, 194e 2 `sheets-sheety 2 PatentedvJune 28, 1949 -UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in dental articulators.

It is an object of my invention to provide a dental articulator which isof simple, inexpensive, and sturdy construction, and which yet providesfor ascertaining whether a, denture, either complete or partial, orcomplete or partial upper and lower dentures, are in proper alignmentwith respect to a model or models of remaining natural teeth or of thedentures with respect to each other, respectively, and for simulatingthe movement of teeth in mastication. More specifically, it is an objectof my invention to provide lower and upper denture supporting membersarranged in spaced apart relation with the upper member surmounting thelower member, with means being provided for pivotally mounting themembers together adjacent their rearward ends, and with means beingprovided for normally maintaining the pivoted relationship of thesemembers, which latter means is yieldable to enable relative generallateral movement, simulating the movement of mastication, of the memberswith respect to each other. Still more specifically, it is an object toprovide in a device as aforesaid adjustable means for limiting pivotalmovement of the upper denture supporting member toward the lower denturesupporting member. f

A preferred structural feature of my invention resides in the provisionof a lower denture supporting member comprising an integral supportingmeans at the rearward end thereof having a pair of spaced upstandingarms connected adjacent their upper ends by a transversely extendingframe member, and in which the upper ends of the arms are slotted toreceive pin means at the rearward end of the upper denture supportingVmember to provide a pivotal mounting thereof.

A further preferred feature resides in the provision of spring loadedjaw members adapted to be pivotally supported on the frame member of thelower denture supporting member for normally yieldingly engaging theupper denture supporting member to maintain the pin means of the latterin the slots of the lower denture supporting member, and which jawmembers provide for general relative lateral movement of the upper andlower members with respect to each other.

Afurther preferred feature resides in the provision in a device asaforesaid of screw means 2 threaded in the frame member of thesupporting means of the lower denture supporting member adapted toengage a rearwardly extending tongue of the upper denture supportingmember for adjusting the limit of its pivotal movement toward the lowerdenture supporting member.

A further preferred feature is in providing in a device as aforesaid acored chamber in the frame member' of the lower denture supportingmember in which the spring loaded jaws are pivotally mounted, andbetween which the aforesaid screw means extends through the chamber,there being a sleeve disposed about the screw means in the chamber aboutwhich a coil spring is positioned with the opposite ends of the coilspring engaging the jaws to provide the spring loading thereof.

A still further preferred feature is in the provision of a constructionin which the spring loaded jaws are of identical form, facilitating themaking thereof and their assembly in the device'.

Other objects, features, and advantages of my invention will appear fromthe detail description.

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner ofconstructing and utilizing a device in accordance with my invention, Ishall describe in connection with the accompanying drawings a preferredembodiment of my invention,

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a device constructed inaccordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a right hand end view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is 'a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 ofFigure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, with certainof the parts being shown in elevation;

Figur-e4 is a plan view of the device of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the upper denture supporting member of thedevice of Figures l, 2-

and 4; and

Figure 6 is a plan view of'the device of Figures l and 2 illustratinglthe position of the upper dental supporting member shifted generallylaterally in one direction relative to the lower denture supportingmember to simulate the action of mastication.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that I have provided adental articulator comprising a lower denture supporting member 1 and anupper denture supporting member 8 spaced from and surmounting the lowerdenture supporting member 1. The members 'l and 8 are adapted to supportlower and upper dentures E! and lll, respectively, in the position theywould assume in a patients mouth. The members 7 and 8, as more clearlyshown in Figures 4 through 6, are formed with a plurality of openings Ilto provide a plurality of ribs and narrow marginal edges therein whichlare adapted to be embedded in suitable jaw molding material l2 such asplaster of Paris, for mounting the dentures 9 and I0 upon the denturesupporting members.

It will be understood that while IlhaveshownA complete 'upper and lowerdentures mounted inv the device that the upper and lower frames mayprovide for the support of partial dentures on a model or models of theremaining natural teeth of a patient, the word denture as herein usedshould be construed in this sense.

It will be observed that a supporting means f3v is formed integrallywith the lower/denture Suipporting member 1 and it comprises a ,pair ofwhich slots e'xterid 'generally orward-ly and slightly downwardly as'best'snown in Figures 1` all'ld 3.

The upperv denturesupporting 'member 8 adjacent its 'rearward-end isY'foir'r'I- ed 'with an 'inte'- gra'l substantiailyeylindricar end'portion 22 having laterally -extendiii'gfcylfindrical 'end extensions2-3--23 in 'whichft'he pivot pins 2?4 f 22| are secured. A tongue 2'5";Yalso preferably Yintegral `with the upper denture 'supporting member"B, extends rearwardly "theref terminaitin Abelow the :chamber IT whenthe pivot pins-'32 -"24" are disposed in slots '2`0--2`` in the earsZit-121; 'The outer e'nds of `the :cylindrical 'extensions )I3-23 areroundedasshownat {to prov-ideffor slight rocking movement with th'e'adjacent ins'ide surfaces of ears 2|-2| in the general lateral movementof the denture supporting menleis asreferr'ed t'o Amore inLdetailhrinafter;

mounted ii @handber- I 1"fbout 'vertically extending pivot pins 28-28,the upper and lower lends of which "aire suitably fsecliredriii theupper 'and disposed in il 1 "i'reitweenl the upper and lower wallsthereof and through which the threedeuv *snai-rk rof'screw 129`ferr-tends. The lower ef'n'dv` of screw:2911sroundeduand'fengagesithe.rearwaruly extending "tongue- L:425' 'orthe 4upper .center-e' supportingimeiuber'to adjust .the iiinitiroff'pivoter movement of the :latter acuut the y:pivot pins 24-24 in slots20-20 toward the :lowerfienture supporting linemor. A 'coil spring it 2iis 'disposed about the upper shank portion of the screw 29 betweenwashers 33-33 adjacent the knurled upper end 30 and the upper surface ofthe upper wall S8 dening chamber I6 to prevent accidental turning ofscrew 29.

A coil spring 35 is arranged coaxially of sleeve 3l and the upper andlower free ends thereof are extended to engage in slots 31--31 formed inthe inside surfaces of the jaws rearwardly of the pivotal mountingsthereof to normally bias the jaw members about their pivots to engagethe arcuate forward ends 38-38 of the jaws with the cylindricalextensions 23-23 of the lower denture supporting member 8 to yieldinglyretain the pivot pins l24---24of the latter in slots llill-23. Thejawmembers -21-2'12at itheirrrearward ends are formed with finger gripportions -40 which when grasped and urged toward each other swing theforwardly extending ends of the jaws away yfrom the cylindricalextensions 23--23 against the face of coil spring 35 whereupon the upperdenture supporting member may be readily disasserrrbleizlv l'from 'thelower denture supporting member. It is to beobserved that the jawmembers '2l are of identical construction with the grooves 3l formedtherein either being disposed upwardly or downwardly whenassembled'onthe pivot `pins therefor in the ch'ainberlifor reception 'ofthe upper vand lower extensions of .coil spring 3'5, respectively.

in Figures l, 3 '4' andt 'it lwill "be 'observed'that' the upper edgesof *tne'transverse kTra-me member I5y adjacent their junction`witi`1"the opstanding extending generally rearwardly 'and lslightly.up-

' wardly of the lower edges of 'slots20`-20.

tis `believed :it willbeappalrentwth the construction vabove 4describedthat ythe 'spring' loaded jaw members 2?-'21 normally maintain thepivot' pins Z'-Mof't'he'upper yd'entizrre.supporting mem'- ber 8 A'inthe 'slots 20L-2U 'of the lower denture supporting member'l 'for pivotalymovement of the upper Vmember -8 'about the horizontal Laxis of thepivot 2li-'24 with the Apivotal movement or the upper member :8 beingVlirrted 'by engagement' ofthe 4tongue '25 thereof withthe bottomsemisphe'rical end of `the screw"2'9; With the parts in 'this position"the spring loaded 'jaw members 21--21 permit general vlateral movementof the' upper 'and ylower 'denture supporting members with resp-ect r:to'each pther, as shown in Figure 6, andduring whichiateralmovement thep'ivo'tpins'- 2'4-f24 in following Vthe-cam surfaces H -41 "simulate themovements of the human jaws in mastic'ation. The rounded 4'ends '2'6-26o'f lthepylindrical extensions 'Q3-#23 mainte/into la minimumrfrictional engagement with `the adjacent iinsidek surfaces of ears r2I/-"2 |`l and facilitate "the lateral' movementv -of Ethe lupper 'and'lower Adenture supporting members `lwith vrespect to `each other. yFor'convenien'ceein handling the device, I-'gpreferably provide *the outeredges "ofthe upstanding arms porting member adapted to be spaced fromand surmount said lower denture supporting member, said lower memberhaving integral upstanding supporting means at the rearward end thereofprovided with generally forwardly extending slots, pivot pin means onsaid upper member lying slots, said jaws being bifurcated at theirforward.r

ends engaging said upper member and provided with lhandle portions attheir opposite ends for individually or simultaneously retracting saidJaws.

2. A dental articulator comprising, a lower denture supporting member,an upper denture supporting member adapted to be spaced from andsurmount said lower denture supporting member, said lower member havingintegral upstanding supporting means at the rearward end thereofprovided with generally forwardly extending slots, pivot pin means onsaid upper member lying on an axis extending transversely of therearward end of the latter and adapted to be disposed in said slots, apair of spring loaded jaws individually pivotally mounted on saidsupporting means rearwardly of said slots and normally biased intoengagement with said upper member to maintain normally said pivot pinmeans in said slots, said upper member having a rearwardly extendingtongue, and adjustable screw means carried by said supporting means forengaging said tongue of said upper member for limiting pivotal movementof the latter toward said lower member, said jaws being bifurcated attheir forward en-ds engaging said upper member and provided with handleportions at their opposite ends for individually or simultaneouslyretracting said jaws.

3. A dental articulator comprising, a lower denture supporting member,an upper denture supporting member adapted to be spaced from andsurmount said lower denture supporting member, said lower member havingintegral supporting means at the rearward end thereof comprising a pairof spaced upstanding arms connected together adjacent their upperrearward portions by a transversely extending frame member, said arms attheir upper ends each having a generally .forwardly extending slot,pivot pin means on said upper member lying on an axis extendingtransversely of the rearward end of the latter and adapted to bedisposed in the slots of said arms, a pair of jaws individuallypivotally mounted on said frame member between said arms, spring meansfor normally biasing said jaws into engagement with said upper member toretain yieldingly said pivot pin means in said slots, saidA jaws beingbifurcated at their forward ends engaging said upper member and providedwith handle portions at their opposite ends for individually orsimultaneously retracting said jaws, said upper member having arearwardly extending tongue, and screw means carried by said framemember intermediate the pivotal mountings of said jaws for engaging saidtongue.

4. A dental articulator comprising, a lower denture supporting member,an upper denture supporting member ad-apted to be spaced from andsurmount said lower denture supporting member, said lower member havingintegral supporting means at the rearward end thereof com- 6 prising apair of spaced upstanding arms connected together adjacent their upperrearward portions by a transversely extending frame member, said arms attheir upper ends each having a `generally forwardly extending slot,pivot pin means on said upper member lying -on an axis extendingtransversely of the rearward end of the latter and adapted to bedisposed in the slots of said arms, said frame member having a chamberformed therein, a pair of jaw members pivot-ed intermediate their endsin said chamber about pivot pins extending vertically through saidchamber, said jaw members being formed lat their forward ends withportions for engaging said upper member and at their rearward ends withlinger grip portions for individually or simultaneously retracting saidforward end, said upper member having a rearwardly extending tongueunderlying the chamber of said frame member; a screw threaded in saidframe member and extending through the chamber thereof between the pivotpins for said jaw members for engaging said tongue of said upper member,a sleeve coaxial of said screw and disposed in said chamber, and a coilspring coaxial of said sleeve and having its opposite ends in engagementwith said jaw members for normally urging the forward portions thereofinto engagement with said upper member.

5. A dental articulator com-prising, a lower denture supporting member,an upper denture supporting member adapted to be spacedfrom and surmountsaid lower denture supporting member, said lower member having integralsupporting means at the rearward end thereof comprising a pair of spacedupstanding arms ccnnected together adjacent their upper rearwardportions by a transversely extending frame member, said arms at theirupper ends each having a generally forwardly extending slo-t, camsurfaces extending rearwardly and upwardly from the lower edges of saidslots, pivot pins on said upper member projecting laterally from thesides thereof on an axis extending transversely of the rearward end ofsaid Lipper member and ladapted to be disposed in the slots of saidarms, a pair of jaws individually pivotally mounted yon said framemember between said arms and individually or simultaneously retractable,and spring means for normally biasing said jaws into engagement withsaid upper member to retain normally said 'pivot pins of said uppermember in said slots, said upper and lower members being movablegenerally laterally with respect to each f other with the pivot pins inengagement with said cam surfaces and against the force of ysaid spring.

6. A dent-al articulator comprising, a lower denture supporting member,an upper `denture supporting member adapted to be spaced from andsurmount said lower denture supporting member, said lower member havingintegral supporting means at the rearward end thereof comprising a pairof spaced upstanding arms connected together adjacent their upperrearward portions by a transversely extendding frame member, said armsat their upper ends each having a generally forwardly extending slot,cam surfaces extending rearwardly and upwardly from the lower edges ofsaid slots, pivot pins on said upper member projecting laterally fromthe sides thereof on an axis extending transversely of the rearward endof said upper member and adapted to be disposed in the slots of saidarms, a pair 4of jaws individually pivotally mounted on said framemembers between said arms and individually or 7 .simultaneouslyretractable, spring means for normally `biasing -said jaws .into.engagement with ,said upper-inemberto retain normally said. pivotpinsof said uppermember in said slots, said upper and lower membersbeing movable generally laterally with respect. to .each other rwiththe. pivot 'pins in engagement with psaid camsurfaces and against'theflorcefof said spring means, said up- .per `member having ,a rearwardlyextending tongue, fand adjustable rscrew vmeans carried vby sa-dirameforengagingsaid tongue of said up- .fper member for limiting pivotalmovement of the latter toward said lowermember.

.'7. A dental `articulator comprising, a lower1 denture `supportingmember, an upper denture be-disposeddn the slots-of said arms, a coredchamber in said frame member forming forwardvl1y .and rearwardlythereof, a pair of jaw members individually `pivoted intermediatetheirends in :said chamber about pivot pins extending verticallyytheretlfirouglfi and projecting through the .forwardlandrearwardopenings thereof, said jaw members .being 4formed at ftheir forward endswith portions forengaging Asaid upper member .and at their rearward endsvwith nger grip por- .tions v for individuallyY orL simultaneouslyretracting said jaw-members against the action of .a #Spring meanstending to force their forward ends into engagement .withsaid uppermem-ber, said upper memberhaving a rearwardly extending .tongueunderlying the chamber of said frame member, a screw verticallythreadedin said frame member extending through the vchamber :thereofbetweenv the pivot pins for said jaw members for engaging said tongue.of said upper member, "a sleeve coaxial of said .screw .and disposed insaid chamber, anda coil springcoaxial of said sleeve and having itsopposite `endsin engagement with said jaw members for normally urgingthe 4fori8 yiwardportions of the, latterinto engagementv withsaid'upper-member. y 4'-8. Means forlyieldingly:maintaining-upperlandlower denture supporting members of a dental articulator in pivotalrelation Vabout pivot means Yprovided therebetween.comprising, :a pairof jaw 4members individually pivotally mounted intermediatetheirendsonspaced .pivot pins supported .by said l-owermember, said jawmembers having Iportions at rone ofltheendsthereof for engagingvfsaidupper member and nger'lgripportions lat l their otherends :forlindividually or lsimultaneous- `lyretractingsaidfjaw-members `fromengagement with said upper member, :and a coil Ispringzsup- Ported bysaid-lowermember between said jaws lwith-.the opposite Aends of the-coilspring irrengagement .with saidjawmembers and normally biasing thelatter to engage the said one ends thereof into engagement `with saidupper'member.

9. KMeans .for-yieldingly maintaining upper and lower `denturesupportingmembers of a-.dental l.artieulator in pivotal relationaboutpivot means provided therebetween comprising, a pairfotjaw .memberspivotally mounted .intermediate their ends on-.spacedpivotl pins.supportedby said lower member, .said .Jaw members .having 4portions vatyone ,of .the ends l thereof .fory engaging Vsaid upper `member andnger,gripportions at their .other ends,v a. screwthreadedin said .lowermember intermediate the pivoty pinsof. saidjawmembers, a sleeve coaxialof said screw: and disposed between said jaws, Aand .acoil spring,`coaxialy of said sleeve with the opposite` endsof. said coil spring inengagement with saidjaw ,members-,and normally biasing the.lattertoengage the said one ends thereof into engagement with saidupper member.

WAYNE W. MOORE.

' REFERENCES CITED Thefollowingfreferenlces are of recordin-the file .ofthis-patent:

AUNITED STATES PATENTS

